PYRAMIDS OF MEXICO

Deep within the jungles of Mexico and Guatemala and extending into the
limestone shelf of the Yucatan peninsula lie the mysterious temples and Mayan pyramids.

While Europe was still in the midst of the Dark Ages, these amazing people
had mapped the heavens, evolved the only true writing system native to the
Americas and were masters of mathematics.

They invented the calendars we use today. Without metal tools, beasts of
burden or even the wheel they were able to construct vast cities across a huge
jungle landscape with an amazing degree of architectural perfection and variety.
Their legacy in stone, which has survived in a spectacular fashion at places
such as Palenque, Tikal, Tulum, Chichen Itza, Copan and Uxmal, lives on as do
the seven million descendants of the classic Maya civilization.

The Maya are probably the best-known of the classical civilizations of
Mesoamerica. Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C., they rose to
prominence around A.D. 250 in present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern
Belize and western Honduras. Building on the inherited inventions and ideas of
earlier civilizations such as the Olmec, the Maya developed astronomy,
calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing.

The Maya were noted as well for elaborate and highly decorated ceremonial
architecture, including temple-pyramids, palaces and observatories, all built
without metal tools. They were also skilled farmers, clearing large sections of
tropical rain forest and, where groundwater was scarce, building sizable
underground reservoirs for the storage of rainwater. The Maya were equally
skilled as weavers and potters, and cleared routes through jungles and swamps to
foster extensive trade networks with distant peoples.

The Mayan pyramids of Teotihuacan rise as high as twenty-story buildings,above the
central Mexican highlands with a grandeur and mystery that stirs the imagination
and inspires the soul. As a civil engineer, I have often been intrigued by the
surveying and construction skills of so-called primitive societies; this site is
truly exceptional. All of the buildings are aligned with the stars and the solar
system from precise survey points in the nearby mountain range, using an
advanced understanding of mathematics, geometry and astronomy.

Little is known by traditional researchers about the pyramids of Teotihuacan
(pronounced tay-oh-tee-wah-con, and simply referred to as "Teo" by the locals).
Built bythe Toltecs, Teo was once a city the size of ancient Athens and Rome. It
thrived as the primary center of learning and culture in America for over one
thousand years, before it was abandoned about fifteen-hundred years ago.

According to legend, after the fall of Teotihuacan, two major paths of sacred
knowledge formed. One Toltec path went to Tula near present day Hidalgo. The
magic of Tula can be compared to what our culture might term "black magic." The
generally more enlightened path called the Path of Freedom went south toward
Xochicalco, near present day Cuernavaca, and also eventually went into hiding.

The term "Toltec" as used by the Aztecs (who came many years after the
Toltecs) meant either a "great wise one" or a native healer or artist who
followed a certain tradition; it was not necessarily meant to define a specific
ethnic group. In fact there is evidence that Toltec society was a relatively
harmonious blend of several of America's early native cultures.

The Olmecs and the builders of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, with whom the Toltecs
traded, revered the Toltecs and regarded them as the most highly advanced
society in religion, magic and art. Yet, unlike the art of other early American
societies, Toltec art depicts only two gods: the earth goddess and the rain/sky
god. The fact that Toltec art does not prominently portray many gods for
worship, supports the belief, common throughout America for over one thousand
years, that the Toltecs were able to communicate directly with the gods in the
sun, the moon and the stars.

Mayan pyramid of Inscriptions at Palenque

Mayan pyramid of the Magician at Uxma

Palace of the Governors at Uxmal

In Tula, Mexico: Elevation; 6,500 feet.

This sites presents a five-terraced Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli Pyramid.

Tula is an ancient Toltec city.

Cholula, Mexico

Cholula was the Holy Place of the three major satellite cities of
Teotihuacan. It was destroyed by Cortes and his men on their way to take
Tenochtitlan. The pyramid is in the present day city of Cholula and in volume
(before destruction) was larger than the Egyptian pyramid of Cheops. After
conquest a church was built on top of the ruins.

Elevation; 7,000 feet

Three successively larger Mayan pyramids were built on top of each other here, and
served important ceremonial purposes for the Aztecs. The last and largest
pyramid was faced with stucco, which if not maintained turns back to mud. When
the pyramid was abandoned, the stucco turned back to mud, and plants and
eventually trees grew on it.

Historians think the Spaniards were not aware that they were building their
church on top of an Aztec pyramid - perhaps they just built there because it was
the highest hill in the area! However, it is very common, both in Mexico and in
other cultures where belief systems have warred, to see buildings associated
with one culture constructed on top of or from the rubble of buildings
associated with the other culture.

In Izamal, for example, a large cathedral and courtyard are build on top of a
lopped-off pyramid. In India, too, one can see mosques constucted from stones
whose carvings show that they were originally part of Hindu temples.

Tzintzuntzan, Mexico - Hummingbirds in Stone

The great platform, measuring 425 by 250 meters would hold thirty soccer
fields.

Elevation; 7,000 feet. Site of the longest pyramid in the West (3,100 feet).

The name is said to mean "place abundant in hummingbirds", or if properly
pronounced to sound like a hummingbird beating its wings.

pp. mayan, 05/11:I was told by an old man,what was passed down by his people generation after generation, that mayan people went up the coast north went all the way to what we all know as upper north east of the United States winters to cold they came back and told of all they saw. So that tells me,We where here way before mayflower so we are the founding people of this land. They went not to claim but to discover.

Anthon Deutsch, 08/03:Your article is dead wrong. I live 40miles from Teotihuacan and have been there at least 10 times. Teotihuacan was NOT a Mayan city. Teotihuacan wasn't even built by the Aztecs, they occupied the city and it became an important part of their history. It is the most important archaeological site of the Aztec World along with Templo Mayor in Mexico City's zocalo. They are 29 miles apart. Pay close attention to what you wrote, people believe what they see in the internet

Kaitlyn, 13/05:I like it but it needs to be about other pyrmids

Zecon365, 06/10:@isaav
lol same
- This comment is approved by based Shyamalama. -

pimp, 09/07:was up yo was gud

samanthaa, 06/05:hey wuts up yo.
text me (956) 5701064

gilbert rivera, 03/05:im going here for vacation

macusfsfsdaf, 25/04:hi fsdfjsdkk fsdiafsd

endy, 23/04:te amo evelyn rodriguez

bob, 22/04:Sup every body

unknown3, 14/04:This is a pretty good site but it would be better if it was organized. Thanks anyway.

bob, 06/04:is any one there?????????

the jack, 24/02:she' got the jack

Terry, 14/02:Anyone want a reach around

sara, 11/02:how do you build a temple of the mayans

Kamye, 04/02:I have a project and need some help fast

EMily!!, 03/02:im doing an essay i need some one to help me answer a question.. "Why would a society not want a written language?"
- Emily

hb, 24/01:thanks for the info doug

Maria, 22/01:Good pics right

az, 13/01: RESEARCH DEEP !And boy will you BE amazed to find out who helped with the building of the Pyramids. Its almost infront of you eyes.... Doyour research people.... Love
. Oh yes the Spaniards were well aware of the fact were they had built their temple. They destroyed the original temple were the people went to worship their gods. It was either the aztecs accepted their religion or died. They destroyed the libraries, got rid of the teacher, and built their temple with their Virgin Mary... Do the research....

manuel, 09/01:hey this is not true you mix all the civilization and the time of them to be honest you don't have any idea what you are talking about.

Kitty, 01/12:Hey guyz IM in thee LIBRARY!!! Where R you at Right now?BYE Im a kitty kat

Tessa, 08/11:what do the mayans build the pyramids with?

stephanie, 05/11:i love you people and Jesus.

LaDarrius, 04/11:yal are some good peope.

trudy, 27/10:Wow I LOVE this stuff.

qwerty, 26/10:it kinda help a lil' so thanks

wendy , 19/10:Would the moderator of this excellent site please remove comments that are rude and/ or off topic?

isaavvv, 02/10:you are so racist

Kate, 19/09:Nobody knows who built these pyramids. It looks like they were built by the Mayans, but you can't be sure. THis region that they were built in isn't part of the Mayan reigons....

HEjEhA, 21/07:I went to these pyramids three days ago, teotihuacan really is amazing. There is the pyramid of the sun and the pyramid of the moon, pretty darn cool society.

texmex, 17/06:Are the pyramids in ruins or as they look in the pictures?

wawa, 31/05:I also need to know what the pyramids were made of. I was told that they were made out of the Mayans recycled trash???

omg, 19/05:i have a q, what exactly were the pyramids made of? hm...

alex, 14/05:im hhappy!!!!!!!

SAM WHITFORD, 21/04:I wan't to go, but no one seems to have phone no.

Daniel, 21/04:whoa. but no this website really helps. great job guys! lol

T~driZZle, 21/04: the mayas are so kewl. they are like oober kewl. i should so become a mayan. omg. and have like a whole bunch of oober kewl piercings. because piercings rock too. i have a gage and a eyebrow ring. and a belly ring. i also have a whole bunch of peircings on my ears. but those dont count. i would fit rite in with the mayans. im like so in school right now. whoa. 0_0.

T~DrizzLe, 21/04:the mayas rock my socks. [{ily]}
*!Buzz!*

jjp, 18/03:needs more info this is good for a 6 yearold

babiee, 12/03:This was a pretty good website! I have to make a 3-D model of one of these pyramids, and this site helped me a lot!

oscar, 28/02:this looked like a great website but i could not find the information that I needed

a, 25/02:these are awsaome i am using them for my project

Raphael Noz, 11/02:hey, last commentor~
I beg to differ with you- the city at Teotihuacan was not Aztec, (or Mexica). The city was long abandoned before the Mexica people settled in the Valley. The Mexica (or perhaps we could say, "Tenochca"- people of Tenochtitlan) made regular pilgrimages to Teotihuacan, but their belief was that it was built by an earlier race of giants. Or so says my reading and learning. Have another look at the history, if you will.

eunniesha, 31/01:This page is wonderful

MexTech, 20/01:The pyramids are of Aztec architecture not Mayan! There is a big difference. There is a different time line. The Toltecs inhabited the region years before the Aztecs did but the Teotihuacan Pyramids are Aztec. The name "Teotihuacan" is a Mexica(Aztec) name with roots in the Nahuatl language (official Aztec language).

vivi, 07/01:I saw these pyramids a few years ago, they were amazing! I would deffinately want to go and see them again!

i ¢¾ ahren!, 09/11:i like this guy named ahren hes awsome hes in my seminar class!

Keeleigh, 09/10:This website has pretty good info.

scarface, 01/10:jus here here to say mexico is gangsta, its like 8 bukks for a 12 pakk of corona ova der an 10 for a 20 pakk, an you can practicaly get away wit anythin such as fighting, drinking an driving, smoking, an speeding,.... as long as your not in a city lol its betta if your in a ranch, trust me lol

Kevin, 29/02:Robert and Fabiola, nobody knows who built Teotihuacan, and the Mayans cannot be discarded!
In fact, many scholar believe the Mayans built it and certainly Mayan people occupied it. Teotihuacan did not decline before mayan beginnings but concurrently. The Huastec (Mayans) still live in Mexico very near Teotihuacan. Many believe they abandoned teotihuacan by the marauding ethnic group coming from the north and west. I am not saying Teotihuacan is Mayan, just that it is an hypothesis not to be discarded so hastily.

dejanea, 21/02:absolutely no help

a2a , 15/02:hey ppl love you SERGIO sosa

Jr. Mac, 05/02:smoke trees every day you bz's

Nikki, 04/02:The pictures were beautiful but I felt that it was lacking information. Possibly the actual info on Mayan pyramids. The pyramids in South America are very similar. I would like to know the differences of the two. Nice pics tho :)

Robert, 17/01:Ya Sabrina I'm crazy about you too!

Sabrina, 17/01:I love you ROBERT!

Natalie, 17/01:I love the pyramids because I'm doing a science project and I have to do the PYRAMIDS

nicole, 11/01:I am so in love with Malisha.

robert, 30/12:These pyramids are absoluetly not Mayan. The Mayans existed in what is now Chiapas, Yucatan, Quitana Roo, Guatamala and also parts of Honduras. The Mayans existed out of influence of the Teotiuacan influence for many years up until about the classic to late classic period when we begin to see influence from Teotihucan. The people from Teotihucan are probably decendents from the Olmec tribes which are found in the states of Veracruz. The Olmec civilization is considered by many to be the mother civilization of all Meso-american tribes. They even invented the Long count calendar before the Mayans although the mayans perfected it. The Aztecs emperoers made yearly trips to Teotihucan to honor the pyramids because they believed they were built by giants in the 4th age. The aztecs believe in 5 ages, we are living in the 5th.

Rylie S., 17/12:in a hurry i was looking for a site to use it was 10:00 the project was due the next day and i had done nothing so i started this site gave me great informaion and when we presented even though it was secondary quality work it got me an A so thanku website

Kyle Eskew, 11/12:Needs more info on your Mayan Pyramids, you dig what I'm tryin' to say.

Emily, 30/11:What are the demensions of a general mayan pyramid? Are they are different? How can i make a scale model?

monica, 27/11:yo soy una puta

moniqua, 27/11:where is the great pyramid

raymundo, 26/11:when were the first mayan temples builT?

brittney, 02/11:hey!! whats up!

that dude on that show with that line..., 01/11:spanish stuff!1

hey , 24/10:hey its me are you there?

itisme, 24/10:ok wut is your # bbz!

hey , 24/10:call me to have a good time
. hello help me and i love you babes

LOUISE, 23/11:like omg lol i love this website doing things on this in it lol bye bye x

Blake, 20/11:these are cool!

jasmin johnson, 19/11:like omg thanx so much for this website cuz im like doing a project on the mayans right now 2 like omg well like bye like omg

jacktheripper, 04/11:the mayans? i know what happen to them,they took my job! here in america,and sent whats left to build the pyramids for a tourist trap! bunch of boarder hoppin beaners! (keep 420 alive)

fabiola, 31/10:Teotihuacan IS NOT MAYAN! WAS NOT MAYAN! it was abadonned before the rise of the maya and are the oldest ruins of there type on teh continent. They formed part of mayan mithology, because out circle of time, which ends in 2012 began at Teotihuacan, where the last circle ended!

Andrew, 19/10:I love these mayan pyramids photos, i would like to travel and see it in real!

CHIKA CHIKA , 14/10:omg someone just type bak to me plz ( this web site helped )
. if someone read the thing above please type back!!! this site was good!
. This web site was a great!!!! It let me find the things i couldnt on other web sites Peace CHIKA CHIKA!!!!!!!!

peds05, 07/10:This web site is informative as well as educational for those people who do not know much about mexican heritage. well done you all!

Jocilyn, 03/10:I'm making a sculture of a mayam pyramid for my history festival!

j, 18/09:Likitiki chessy

isaac mex, 06/09:this website is really helpful. Because it talks about an ancient civilization, that could predict the future.
I think people should really read more about it.
many thanks, chao.

Teresa Mohr, 05/05:It is remarkable to read about old civilizations. I'm blown away every time I read about the Mayan culture. I was curious after hearing about the possible pyramid find in Bosnia and wondered how the two could possibly be similiar, I guess time will tell. Thank you for having an interesting website one that sparks your interest.

iLL_Eagle, 05/05:Kewl, site bro. i recall those days, and only see it going in the oposite direction now.

Julia LaMond, 21/03:I thought your website was pretty neat, although I would like to know some of the sources you seem to be quoting. I agree with some of the previous comments in that you should make clear where there is speculation. Overall, good website!

wazz up , 21/03:This is the best wed site ever people. Late

gin, 24/02:how r im great your fat hoochy?

Emma, 14/02:Hey thanks for all the info! I thought I would be up all night looking for this kind of information. I am doing a school project on the Mayans right now! :^)

Hunnie, 16/12:i love your website you boys r hot 2

Veronica, 14/12:Thanks for the info; it came in handy! :)
. Thanks for the last minute info for mi Spanish project! :)

lorenz, 22/08:Well I viseted the site of cholula and I DID hear the story that the maya did not want the spanish people to destroy their pyramid so they tried to hide it and covered it. so when the spanish arrived they only found a big hill and build a church on top of it. I find that quite reasonable. why should the spanish first cover the old pyramid and then build the church on top? why not build it on top right away or rip the pyramid apart?
well but I guess nobody will really KNOW. one can only guess ...
greetings Lorenz

Joe Baca, 26/06: I liked your page on the pyramids in Mexico however I did find a few flaws. Nobody knows who built the pyramids of Teotihuacan to this day. It is very speculatory to say that the Maya were responsible, maybe you should reflect that more in your report. Also contrary to what you have written here the spaniards knew exactly what they were doing when they built that so-called church on top of the pyramid in Cholula. I'm not sure which "historians" you have quoted here however I am not familiar with a version of the europeans not knowing what they were building on. They were saying that my god is bigger than your god and it was a disrespectful gesture to a conquered people. I also see that you left out of your report the atrocities that engulfed an entire culture when the europeans arrived. If you are going to tell a story of a people why not tell the whole story? Just a thought...Joe